Data printing apparatus



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DATA PRINTING APPARATUS Shets-$heet Filed Dec. 15, 1966 INVENTOR. Maw/"we Tack/76F 4l'7'0/QNEY6 Jan. 23, 1968 M. D TEICHNER DATA PRINTING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec.

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flTTORA/EXS United States Patet 3,364,851 DATA PRINTING APPARATUS Maurice D. Teichner, New Canaan, Conm, assignor to Practical Automation, Inc., Shelton, Cnn., a corporation of Connecticut Filed Dec. 15, 1966, Ser. No. 602,069 (Ilaims. (Cl. Mil-90) ABSTRACT OF THE DHSCLGSURE A data printing apparatus for accepting electrical signals and printing a line of data relating thereto in which there are a plurality of independent modules with each module having a printing wheel for printing a character in the line of data and in which printing is effected by moving all the modules to strike a transverse line of paper against an inking surface.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for printing a line of data and more particularly in which the data input consists of electrical signals and the printing is in visually recognizable characters that are related to the electrical signals.

In my copending application, Ser. No. 441,064, filed Mar. 19, 1965, and entitled, Data Printing Apparatus there is also disclosed an apparatus that prints recognizable characters based on input data in the form of electrical signals. While the printing apparatus disclosed in said application has been found to be extremely satisfactory and economical as compared to other similar devices, it is still somewhat relatively expensive and therefore economically barred from many applications which require an extremely economical data printing apparatus. Moreover, though it is relatively small its size was such as to be too large and thus tended to limit its utilization.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a data printing apparatus which is substantially more economical to manufacture than heretofore similarly functioning devices.

Another object of the present invention is to achieve the above object in a printing apparatus in which the characters in the line may be easily and quickly formed and/or substituted but yet which even though capable of printing a line that includes a plurality of characters is exceedingly small in size.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a data printing apparatus that may be quickly and efficiently assembled, that is durable in use and that may be easily serviced.

In carrying out the present invention, the data printing apparatus includes a plurality of individual printing modules with there being at least a module for each changeable character in the line of type or data to be printed. Each module includes a printing wheel which is incrementally rotated by energization of a solenoid by the application of an electrical signal. A peripheral portion of the wheel is exposed through a slot and printing characters are for-med on the periphery so that rotational movement of the wheel exposes a different portion and usually a different character. The modules are aligned and by forcing the exposed characters against a record media with the use of printing material, such as ink, 21 line of printing is effected.

In heretofore known data printing apparatus, the exposed portions of the wheels have been accurately positioned and when they are each forced against the record media and printing material, each character will receive the same force and thus print with the same quantity of ink to cause the characters to have similar line width 3,3d4,85l Patented Jan. 23, 1968 ice and evenness of appearance. When the printing wheels are not on a common shaft but are each individually mounted modules on their own shaft, the modules must be precisely formed within small tolerances and accurately and positively positioned in the apparatus to print each character evenly and alike. Thus heretofore suggested devices have had structure for individually receiving each module in an aligned position and securing them in said position.

In accordance with the present invention, the modules, rather than being permanently secured in one position, are mounted to be relatively movable with respect to a stationary printing surface and the exposed portions of the wheels are forced against the surface by a pivoting movement of the modules. A common movement is applied to each module to cause them to be pivoted about the same axis to their imprinting position. Each module is independently movable with respect to one another and mounted on a common pivot shaft. To limit the movement of the modules, there is provided a stop which engages the modules and prevents them from excessive movement in the imprinting direction. If, however, one or more modules differ so substantially from one another that their characters have an unacceptable appearance, the present invention contemplates the use of individually adjustable stops for one or more of such modules. When the stop is engaged to prevent further movement of the module, its exposed character will strike the record media against the printing material with a force for a distance set by the stop. Thus each module may be adjusted to have its character printed the same as the others.

After imprinting has been effected, the record media which is specifically a roll of paper is then advanced to provide a different area for the next line of data. The advancing is achieved by an interconnection with the modules so that the latter upon being returned from the printing position will cause paper advancement.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a vertical section of the data printing apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a horizontal section taken on the line 22 of FIG. 1 showing a plan of the interior of the apparatus.

FIG. 3 is 'a front view, somewhat enlarged, of the data printing apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional detail, somewhat enlarged, taken on the line 4--4 of FIG. 3.

FIGS. 5, 6, 7 and 8 are sectional details, somewhat enlarged, taken on horizontal planes'indicated by lines 5-5, 6-6, 77 and 8-8 on FIG. 1 through the front plate with the planes being through the paper advancing shaft; the ink platen; the front plate supporting shaft; and the upper paper guide respectively.

FIG. 9 is a sectional detail, somewhat enlarged, taken on the vertical plane through the line -9-9 of FIG. 1 showing the module printing movement limit stops.

Referring to the drawing, the data printing apparatus of the present invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 10 and includes a casing 11 that is formed of sheet metal bent substantially into a U-shape to provide a top, end and bottom 12, 13 and 14 respectively. The end of the casing opposite the end 13 is open and outwardly extending flanges 15 and 16 are located thereat. The data printing apparatus is mounted to be in alignment with an opening 17 formed in a panel 18 by the flanges 15 and 16 being secured to the panel 18 adjacent the opening as by screws (not shown). An electrical connector 19 of the plural contact type to which wires 20 may be connected to provide electrical connections to the interior of the casing 11 is mounted on the end 13. The remainder of the data printing apparatus is telescopingly movable into and out of the casing 11 through the opening 17 to provide access thereto without disturbing the casing and wires 20.

The movable remainder of the apparatus includes a pair of side rails 21 and 22 that are essentially flat plates and held in spaced apart parallel relation to constitute the sides of the apparatus when they are Within the casing. The top and bottom 12 and 14 respectively are formed with depending flanges 12a and 14a which serve as guides as the side rail height is only slightly less than the distance between the top and bottom and the outside width is just slightly less than the distance between the flanges. Supported between the two side rails, adjacent the end 13, is an end plate 23 that supports -a terminal board 24 which may be a printed circuit board. The board has terminals 24a that mate with the connector 19 by relative linear movement therebetween. Other leads 24b and 240 extend adjacent both side rails from the terminal board to a plurality of modules 25. Accordingly, the electrical signals in the wires 20 may be directed or changed by the terminal board to the modules 25 to effect the energization of the modules as dictated by the circuit requirements.

Each of the modules 25 is of the type disclosed in US. Patent No. 3,278,725 and each has a printing wheel 26 having an exposed portion 26a that projects from a flat face 27 of the module. The modules are relatively thin and elongate and as disclosed in the above-noted patent, have a solenoid (not shown) for actuating the printing wheel upon receipt of an electrical signal, the solenoid causing the printing wheel 26 to advance and present a different exposed portion with each portion generally having a different character. Thus each printing wheel assumes a position dictated by an electrical signal(s) on the wires 20.

Each module, in a plane perpendicular to the axis of its printing wheel, is substantially rectangular in crosssection, relatively thin transversely and formed to have a transverse through aperture 28 adjacent the face 27. In the embodiment of the invention disclosed there are six modules 25 that are mounted on a shaft 29 that extends between and is secured to the two side rails 21 and 22. Thus each module is individually pivotable on the shaft 29 from a dotted line position 25' to the solid line position shown. The dotted line position is the normal rest position of the modules while the solid line is the imprinting position. The leads 24b and 240 are flexible to thereby permit and accommodate the pivotal movement of the modules.

For each module a spring 30 is connected between a common pin 31 that extends between the side rails 21 and 22 and its associated module 25 as at 32, to normally urge each module into its dotted line position 25 and resist movement therefrom. For actuating all modules to the imprinting position there is provided a solenoid comprising a pair of coils 33 that magnetically cooperate through an iron frame 34 to cause a pivotable movement of an armature 35. The frame 34 and coils are mounted on an angle 36 that extends between the side rails and is secured there as by screws 37. The armature has secured thereto an elongate lever 38 which extends under the modules to have a portion 39 engage an arcuate lobe 40 formed on the bottom surface of each of the modules. The lever normally rests on a pin 41 that extends between the two side rails and is engaged by the bottom of the lever 38 to limit the downward movement of the lever and hence determine the non-imprinting position 25' of the modules. The pin 41 may be eccentrically mounted to facilitate adjustment of the limit of downward movement.

Upon energization of the solenoid coils 33 by leads 24d connected to the terminal board 24, the lever 38 is caused to pivot and move from its dotted line position to its solid line position to effect imprinting. The imprinting is on a length of paper 42, particularly a transverse width 42a that is positioned adjacent the exposed portions 26a and the paper 42 is unrolled from a supply roll 43 located adjacent the end 13. The roll 43 rests on a pair of pins 44 that extend between and are secured to the side rails with the unrolled length of paper being led over a guide 45 adjacent the top 12 of the casing and between three additional guides 46, 47 and 48 located adjacent the face 27 of the module. From the guide 48, the paper extends to have the imprinting effected at the width 42a and then it follows a path outwardly of the apparatus from a slot 49 formed in a front plate 50.

The length of paper 42 is unrolled and longitudinally advanced from the roll 43 past the exposed portion 26a by a pair of pin wheels 51 located adjacent the slot 49 on a shaft 52 on which they are freely rotatably supported in spaced apart relation by a spacer 51a. The shaft 52 extends between the side rails (FIG. 5) and is secured thereto. The paper is perforated adjacent each longitudinal end portion, as shown in FIG. 3, and the pin wheels, upon actuation, cause a positive movement of the paper to unroll it from the roll 43 and present a new width to the exposed portions 26a. The pin wheels are incrementally rotated after printing and upon the deenergization of the solenoid coils 33 by the action of the springs 30 returning the modules to their normal non-printing position 25. This movement is achieved by there being connected to or integrally formed with each pin wheel, a ratchet wheel 53 that is actuated by a pawl 54. A rod 55 extends between each side rail beneath the modules and supports adjacent each side rail an elbow crank 56 for pivotal movement with respect to the rod 55. One end 56a of each elbow crank serves as a pivot for its pawl 54 and a spring 57 is connected to the pawl and the elbow crank to tension the pawl counterclockwise to maintain it against the ratchet wheel. The other end 5612 of each elbow crank is connected to a rod 58 that extends beneath the modules but above elongated fingers 59 extending from and constituting part of the lever 38. Accordingly, when the solenoid coils 33 are energized and the lever 38 pivoted clockwise, the fingers 59 engage the rod 58 to cause a counterclockwise movement of the elbow crank 56 with the pawl 54 ratcheting over the ratchet wheel 53 to engage a different cog thereof. Upon deenergization of the coils 33, the springs 30 urge the modules 25 to their non-printing position and the rod 58 is engaged by the modules to produce a counterclockwise movement of the elbow crank 56. The pawl 54 engages the cog on the ratchet wheel to incrementally rotate it and hence the pin wheel to advance the paper 42. It will be also understood that while a positive movement of the paper is produced each time the modules are forced to and rescind from their imprinting position, that the ratchet wheel and pawl provide in effect a one-way clutch which enables the paper 42 to be manually grasped and pulled through the slit 49 if desired without causing loss of registration between the pin wheels and the paper perforations.

While the paper may be formed of pressure imprinting material, it is presently preferred to utilize uncoated paper and to provide an ink supply to provide for the printing of characters. To this end the front plate 50 has secured therein an ink platen 64 located on the opposite side of the paper from the exposed portions 26a. In addition to supporting the ink platen, the front plate 50 also supports and contains a U-shaped handle 61 and a clear plastic insert 62. The front plate 50 is secured to the side rails 21 and 22 but is not received within the casing 11 as it has outwardly extending peripheral flanges 63 which limit the movement of the plate into the casing 11 by their abutment with the outer surface of the panel 18. As shown in FIGS. 58, the front cover also has inwardly extending ribs 64 along its vertical side edges which are spaced to be receivable with the side rails. The guide 48 passes through apertures in the ribs 64 to secure the top of the cover to the ends of the side rails 21 and 22. Additionally, the module pivot shaft 29 passes through apertures 65 in the ribs and end spacers 66 are located on the shaft 29 to accurately locate the modules thereon. Between each of the modules there is furthermore provided intermediate spacers 67 for maintaining the proper width between the modules 25. I

Shaft 52, as more specifically disclosed in FIG. 5, further passes through the ribs 64 of the front plate. It will thus be understood that the front plate is secured to the ends of the rails and serves among other functions to maintain them in the desired spaced apart relation. Moreover, by using the handle 61, the front plate and side rails together with the parts interconnected thereto may be telescopingly moved relatively to the casing 11 with inward movement being limited by the flanges 63.

The clear plastic insert 62 is secured on the front plate by having inwardly extending ears 68 (FIG. 5) formed with apertures through which the shaft 52 passes. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 3, further securement is provided by dowel pins 69 that connect the plastic insert to the ribs 64. The clear plastic insert is closely spaced on the front cover with respect to the pin wheels 51 and has arcuate grooves 70 formed therein. The pins of the wheels project through the perforations in the paper into the grooves 70 and disengagement between the paper and the pins is accordingly prevented. The lower end of the grooves 70 are adjacent to the slot 49 that is formed in the insert and through which the paper is ejected. By having the insert 62 formed of clear plastic material, imprinting on the paper is immediately visually preceivable after printing and paper indexing without requiring the paper to be exited through the slot.

The ink platen 60, as shown in FIG. 6, is secured by a pair of oppositely threaded dowel pins 71 which are threaded into the side rails 21 and 22 and pass through apertures 72 formed in the ribs 64 of the front cover and through apertures 73 formed in projections 74 of the ink platen. The threaded dowel pins effectively align through the apertures 72 and 73 the platen with respect to the front cover plate. Moreover, as the platen is only secured by the two dowel pins 71, it is capable of a slight pivotal movement about the axis thereof and this movement enables it to accommodate itself to present a flush face when the paper is struck thereagainst by the printing portions of the modules wheels 26a. As shown, the axis of the dowel pins 71 is essentially horizontally aligned with the axis of the printing wheel when the modules are in their imprinting position. Preferably the platen is formed of metal or plastic with an interior rectangular slot into which is positioned an insert 75 of ink retaining material such as Porelon having a surface 75a which is struck by the paper.

In order to assure evenness of printing of and between each character the surface 75a of the insert should be precisely spaced with respect to the exposed portions 26a and be tangential to the exposed portions. To achieve this requirement the surface 75a for each ink platen is accurately held to a dimension from the axis of the apertures 73 when each platen is made and the axis of the apertures 73 is caused to be precisely aligned with the axis of the aperture 72 by the dowel pins 69, thereby precisely locating the surface of each ink platen with respect to the front cover but yet enabling ink platens to be easily removed and replaced.

To accu ately cause the modules to have their printing portions 26a placed accurately with respect to the surface 75a, it will be appreciated that the shaft 29 is only loosely mounted in the side rails 21 and 22 but is closely retained within the apertures 65 and thus the length on the front cover between the axis of the shaft 29 and the axis of the apertures 73 for the dowel pins 71 may be held within close dimensions.

The solenoid coils 33 and lever 38 provide the actuating pivotal movement of the modules and to effect evenness of printing by each of the modules they are forced against a positive stop which controls the depth of penetration of the paper into the surface 75a by the character. The stop consists of a rod 76 that is secured as by screws 77 (FIG. 9) to the side rails adjacent the upper front portion thereof. Each module may have dimensions which are sufliciently precise with respect to each other so that the common rod 76 may be used as a common stop. Moreover, the rod 76 is eccentrically held by the screws 77 and pivoting of the rod about the screw axis will enable adjustment of the stop position of the modules. If the dimensions between modules differ substantially, eccentric stops 79 may be locked on the rod to provide an individually adjustable stop for each module.

The fingers 59 of the lever 38 that engage the rod 58 are formed to maintain a slight distance between the rod and the module, thus causing the lobes 40 to be the portion of each module that is engaged by the lever to effect pivoting of the modules. In addition, the rod 58 has washers 80 which serve as spacers to aid in maintaining accurate spacing between the modules to effect the spacing between the imprinted characters.

The insert 75 of ink retaining material is a plastic porous structure with ink contained within the pores. It is effectively a solid pad whose hardness can be altered and out of which the ink does not leak but only releases under pressure. The present invention utilizes such a pad as an effectively solid platen positioned on the obverse side of the paper from which the paper is struck by the printing portions of the modules. The characters on the printing portions are raised and only their shape is struck against the platen with suflicient force to cause ink to be released onto the paper in the same shape as the characters to effect the imprinting.

It will accordingly be appreciated that there has been disclosed a data printing apparatus that accepts information in the form of electrical signals and, upon command, prints the information received as a line of data. The apparatus includes a plurality of individual modules each of which is responsible for printing one character in the line. The modules are mounted for movement between a non-printing position and a printing position with each module being independently movable with respect to the others but yet all being commonly actuated. To achieve similarity in printing each character, the modules are rapidly moved until they engage a stop which limits the force and penetration of paper against an ink platen caused by the modules. Moreover, by the manner in which the parts are interconnected with respect to the front cover, accuracy with which the parts are assembled is assured with an obviating of the possibility of uneven printing.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of the claims and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

I claim:

1. A data printing apparatus comprising a plurality of data units with each unit having a base, a shaft, a Wheel mounted on said shaft and carrying peripheral characters and having an exposed printing portion, electromechanical means for incrementally rotating said wheel upon receipt of an electrical signal, and electrical terminals carried by the base and interconnected with the electromechanical means; a frame, common means on the frame cooperating with the base of each unit for support mg each unit with their printing portions being substantially aligned, means for guiding paper past said aligned printing portions, actuating means engaging the units for moving the units from a nonprinting position to a printing position to cause said printing portions to strike said paper, means for effecting printing on said paper upon being struck by the printing portions, and leads connected to the terminals and to a connector fixed on the frame for providing signals to each unit, said leads being flexible to accommodate for movement of the units with respect to the frame.

3. The invention as defined in claim 2 in which a stop common means includes a pivot shaft, each unit has means cooperating with said shaft to enable pivotal move- 7 ment of the unit and the actuating means pivotally moves the units.

3. The invention as defined in claim 2 in which a stop means is secured on the base, said stop means being positioned to be engaged by the base of the units to limit their movement to the printing position to thereby control their striking of the paper.

4. The invention as defined in claim 3 in which the stop means includes an abutment that is positioned to be common to all units and limit their movement to the same position.

5. The invention as defined in claim 3in which the stop means includes a plurality of stops with a stop for each unit and in which there are means for adjusting the stops thereby enabling the limit of movement of each unit to be individually controlled.

6. The invention as defined in claim 1 in which the means for eifecting printing includes an inking surface that releases ink when struck, the means for guiding the paper includes means for positioning the paper between the inking surface and the exposed printing portions, and in which the printing portions are raised in the shape of the image to be printed and strike the paper against the inking surface to eifect printing of the image.

7. The invention as defined in claim 6 in Which the inking surface is an exterior surface of an insert, said insert being formed of ink retaining, somewhat rigid porous material that releases ink upon the application of a pressure.

8. The invention as defined in claim 7 in which the apparatus includes a front panel, and means for detachably supporting the insert on the front panel.

9. The invention as defined in claim 8 in which the means for supporting the insert includes platen means, cooperating. pivot means formed on the platen means and front panel for enabling pivoting ofthe inking surface about a pivot axis, said axis being substantially aligned with the printing portions of the units when they are at their printing position.

10. The invention as defined in claim 8 in which the front panel includes a transparent portion, means locating said portion adjacent the insert and subsequent thereto along the path of travel of the paper, and means for advancing said paper after imprinting a length sufficient to expose said imprinting through said transparent portion.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,239,060 4/1941 Sloan 101-69 2,281,577 5/1942 Haynes 101-94 2,388,944 11/ 1945 Ammon 101-333 2,441,862 5/1948 Wutscher 101-6 2,506,337 5/1950 Boyden 101-94 2,682,833 7/1954 Gardinor et al. 101-113 2,740,581 4/1956 Komusin 101-90 2,778,304 1/1957 Juhas 101-94 2,915,965 12/1959 Persak 101-90 3,110,250 11/1963 Fradkin 101-93 3,266,418 8/1966 Russo 101-93 WILLIAM B. PENN, Primary Examiner. 

